GREENSBORO -- Winning pitcher Kylie Burke changed speeds and hit locations with precision, keeping UNCG's potent offense off balance throughout Friday afternoon's game as College of Charleston shut out the Spartans 2-0 in the opener of a three-game series at UNCG Softball Stadium.
 
Friday's loss snapped an eight-game winning streak for UNCG, which came into the game with a .332 team batting average but went just 3-for-24 against Charleston pitchers Lauren Sandor and Burke.
 
Even so, the patient Spartans loaded the bases against Sandor on two batters hit by pitches and a walk in the bottom of the second inning. But Burke came on in relief and coaxed a pop-up on a 3-2 pitch to end the threat.
 
Burke (1-2, 2.14 ERA) was terrific the rest of the way and finished the shutout for Charleston (3-10). The senior right-hander mixed fastballs and changeups, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out six.
 
UNCG right-hander Morgan Scott (3-3, 3.19 ERA) was the tough-luck losing pitcher. Scott, who had won three straight starts, pitched a complete game, giving up one earned run on six hits. Scott walked one and struck out seven.
 
Scott gave up two runs in the top of the third inning on Payton Wade's sacrifice fly and Riley Miller's two-out misplayed grounder.
 
UNCG shortstop Brooklynn Maxwell went 1-for-2 with a walk. Makenna Matthijs and Katie Stettler both hit line-drive doubles off the center field fence for the Spartans, but both were stranded when Burke pitched out of jams.
 
UNCG's Jasmine Palmer, the current SoCon player of the week, went 0-for-3 to snap a five-game hitting streak. 
 
Charleston lead-off hitter Aniz Roman had a hit, walk, and a run scored.
 
The Spartans (8-5) and Cougars (3-10) will finish the series with a doubleheader starting at noon Saturday.